Vacuum Furnace For Medical Supplier

SECO/WARWICK will supply a Vector vacuum furnace to the Marle Group, a global manufacturer of orthopedic prosthetics headquartered in Europe. The equipment will be installed in France at Marle Nowak’s facility, which specializes in the production of orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, spinal devices, and OEM manufacturing for the medical sector. The single-chamber furnace will be used for heat treating implants and surgical tools. The contract was secured thanks to successful reference trials conducted at SECO/WARWICK’s R&D department.
 

Marle Nowak faced a technological challenge—the need for rapid cooling of large implant loads. They required equipment capable of cooling a full load (800 kg) from 1200°C down to 400°C in a very short time. After completing a reference trial in the R&D division with a full load, SECO/WARWICK achieved the best rapid cooling results.

Following successful laboratory trials at SECO/WARWICK, the client decided to purchase the device that delivered the best performance among competing solutions. The SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace will not only increase production independence but also facilitate the certification of heat treatment processes in line with ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 standards—crucial requirements in the medical industry.

“Hardening cobalt alloys requires processes that achieve extremely high temperatures, and the heating processes for these materials demand high purity, temperature uniformity, and very fast, efficient cooling. The Vector vacuum furnace meets these criteria, guaranteeing the highest quality of treated components. This is the third SECO/WARWICK device operating at the facilities of the European leader in medical manufacturing. Our equipment will allow our partner to become independent from external hardening services, providing greater control over the entire production process,” said Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.

 
(AI Overview; Vacuum heat treating is a critical process for orthopedic implants—such as hip, knee, and spine replacements—to ensure they meet the rigorous mechanical and biocompatibility standards required for long-term human use. By 2026, this technology has become standard for processing advanced materials like titanium, cobalt-chromium, and 3D-printed alloys. 
Core Benefits for Orthopedic Implants
  • Oxidation Prevention: The vacuum environment removes oxygen and reactive gases, preventing the formation of brittle oxide layers or discoloration on the implant surface.
  • Material Purity: It maintains the inherent biocompatibility of the metal, ensuring the implant does not leach harmful substances or trigger immune responses once inside the body.
  • Enhanced Mechanical Properties: Precise heating and cooling cycles optimize the implant’s hardness, fatigue strength, and wear resistance, which is essential for load-bearing joints.